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An Efficient Oxygen Reduction Catalyst for Zn‐Air Battery: Cobalt Nanoparticles Encapsulated in 3D Nitrogen‐Doped Porous Carbon Networks Derived from Fish Scales
Author(s) -
Sun Jiankang,
Qiu Xiaoyu,
Wang Zhengyun,
Peng Zhuo,
Jiang Lipei,
Li Guangfang,
Wang Haitao,
Liu Hongfang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.202001855
Subject(s) - catalysis , cobalt , battery (electricity) , pyrolysis , materials science , carbon fibers , chemical engineering , zinc , nanoparticle , oxygen reduction reaction , mesoporous material , microstructure , nanotechnology , doping , inorganic chemistry , electrode , chemistry , electrochemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , composite material , power (physics) , physics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , composite number , engineering
The development of a simple and eco‐friendly approach for synthesizing high‐activity and low‐cost electrocatalysts remains a huge challenge for the commercialization of zinc‐air battery technology. Herein, a facile method is demonstrated to skillfully fabricate cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in N‐doped micro/mesoporous carbon networks (Co/N‐MC) by using natural fish scales as carbon source. The effects of pyrolysis temperature on microstructure, N‐doping and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic activity of the obtained Co/N‐MC samples are systematically investigated. The as‐synthesized Co/N‐MC catalyst exhibits better ORR catalytic activity, stability as well as superior Zn‐air battery performance compared with commercial 20 % Pt/C catalyst, owing to its three‐dimensional structures and synergistic effect of N species. The simple and eco‐friendly strategy developed for ORR catalyst in this study holds great potential for the commercial application of zinc‐air batteries.